Anesthesiology
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In addition to local anesthetics, meperidine has been successfully used for local anesthesia. When applied intrathecally, the dorsal horn neurons of the superficial laminae are exposed to high concentrations of meperidine. These cells represent an important point for the transmission of pain information. This study investigated the blocking effects of meperidine on different ionic currents of spinal dorsal horn neurons and, in particular, its impact on the generation of action potentials. ⋯ Meperidine inhibits the complex mechanism of generating action potentials in spinal dorsal horn neurons by the blockade of voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels. This can contribute to the local anesthetic effect of meperidine during spinal anesthesia.
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Whether volatile anesthetics attenuate angiotensin II-mediated vascular tone has not been determined. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of sevoflurane on the angiotensin II-stimulated, Ca2+- and protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated contraction of rat aortic smooth muscle. ⋯ The current study indicates that Ca2+ and cPKC-alpha are involved in angiotensin II-induced vascular contraction. Sevoflurane dose-dependently inhibited the angiotensin II-stimulated, cPKC-mediated but not Ca2+-elicited contraction of rat aortic smooth muscle.
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Editorial Comment
The continuing search for a succinylcholine replacement.